PODCAST

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster

Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster"s experts

arts literature

All Episodes

00:02:30

hackneyed

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/15

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 15, 2025 is:hackneyed • \HAK-need\ • adjective Something is considered hackneyed when it is not interesting, funny, etc., because of being used too often; in other words, it's neither fresh nor original. // The new crime drama's characters are shallow stereotypes who engage one another in hackneyed dialogue. See the entry > Examples: “Any positive lesson here is lost in all the hackneyed

en-us

00:02:07

deus ex machina

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/14

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 14, 2025 is: deus ex machina • \DAY-us-eks-MAH-kih-nuh\ • noun A deus ex machina is a character or thing that suddenly enters the story in a novel, play, movie, etc., and solves a problem that had previously seemed impossible to solve. // The introduction of a new love interest in the final act was the perfect deus ex machina for the main character's happy ending. See the entry > Examples:

en-us

00:02:20

secular

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/13

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 13, 2025 is: secular • \SEK-yuh-ler\ • adjective Secular describes things that are not spiritual; that is, they relate more to the physical world than the spiritual world. The word also carries the closely related meaning of "not religious." // Each year, Ian directed his charitable giving toward secular concerns like affordable housing and arts programming for teens. // In her autobiography, the actor

en-us

00:02:21

leitmotif

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/12

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 12, 2025 is:leitmotif • \LYTE-moh-teef\ • noun A leitmotif is a dominant recurring theme—something (such as a melody, an idea, or a phrase) repeated many times throughout a book, story, opera, etc. // The overcoming of obstacles and a love of theater are the two leitmotifs of her autobiography. See the entry > Examples: “[F. Scott] Fitzgerald considered his year and a half spent on The

en-us

00:01:38

cozen

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/11

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 11, 2025 is: cozen • \KUZ-un\ • verb To cozen someone is to deceive, win over, or induce them to do something by coaxing or trickery. // The organization cozened scores of people by persuading them to participate in a fraudulent investment scheme. See the entry > Examples: “It’s only office seekers with no real solutions who rely on cozening the voter.” — The News-Gazette (Lexington,

en-us

00:02:19

untenable

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/10

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 10, 2025 is:untenable • \un-TEN-uh-bul\ • adjective Something, such as a position, excuse, or situation, that is described as untenable cannot be defended against attack or criticism. // The scientists considered their colleague's theory to be bold but ultimately untenable. See the entry > Examples: "According to The Economist, the disparity between investor enthusiasm about AI and

en-us

00:02:49

excursion

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/09

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 9, 2025 is:excursion • \ik-SKER-zhun\ • noun Excursion refers to a trip, and especially to a short one made for pleasure. Excursion is also often used figuratively to refer to a deviation from a direct, definite, or proper course, and often in particular to a digression. // Some of Maya’s most cherished childhood memories are of fishing excursions with her grandpa. // Lewis Carroll’s Through The Looking

en-us

00:01:58

gelid

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/08

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 8, 2025 is:gelid • \JELL-id\ • adjective Something described as gelid, such as the weather or a person’s demeanor, is literally or figuratively extremely cold or icy. // She decided to move down south after experiencing Chicago’s gelid winters throughout college. See the entry > Examples: “[Delish.com’s assistant food editor, Taylor Ann] Spencer notes Oregon-based ice creamery Salt &

en-us

00:01:50

beleaguer

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/07

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 7, 2025 is: beleaguer • \bih-LEE-gur\ • verb To beleaguer a person, business, etc. is to cause them constant or repeated trouble. Beleaguer is also sometimes used as a synonym of besiege. // The coach, beleaguered by the media and fans for his poor decision-making during games, has been fired. // The novel is set in a city beleaguered by military forces. See the entry > Examples: "..

en-us

00:02:02

tome

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/06

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 6, 2025 is: tome • \TOHM\ • noun Tome is a formal word for a book, and especially a very large, thick, often scholarly book. // We picked up a tome on the Ghana Empire for our history project. See the entry > Examples: “‘The way that we’ve approached publishing at Climax is almost having these two very separate worlds that live perfectly together,’ [Isabella] Burley says of her

en-us

00:01:58

cerulean

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/05

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 5, 2025 is: cerulean • \suh-ROO-lee-un\ • adjective Cerulean describes things whose blue color resembles the blue of a clear sky. // The painting depicts leafless trees bordering a cerulean lake. See the entry > Examples: “He grins to appease me and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cerulean fountain pen, marbled and sparkling. It reminds me of the sea on a calm day. ‘It was my

en-us

00:01:37

fulminate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/04

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 4, 2025 is: fulminate • \FULL-muh-nayt\ • verb To fulminate is to complain loudly or angrily about something. // The editorial fulminated against the corruption in the state government that has been recently uncovered. See the entry > Examples: “When Reagan fulminated against the Soviet Union, his aides, fearing nuclear war, challenged him.” — Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 9 Sept

en-us

00:02:18

addlepated

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/03

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 3, 2025 is:addlepated • \AD-ul-pay-tud\ • adjective Someone described as addlepated is mixed-up or confused. Addlepated can also be used as synonym of eccentric. // Some addlepated clerk confused our hotel reservation with that of another, similarly named, party. See the entry > Examples: “Overwhelmed and a little at sea (so to speak), this viewer combed these scenes for cinematic clues

en-us

00:02:17

potpourri

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/02

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 2, 2025 is:potpourri • \poh-pur-REE\ • noun Potpourri is a mixture of dried flower petals, leaves, and spices that is used to make a room smell pleasant. When used figuratively potpourri refers to a collection of various different things. // Her favorite winter potpourri includes cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel. // The book is a potpourri of stories about family, community, and food. See the

en-us

00:02:00

rejuvenate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/01/01

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 1, 2025 is:rejuvenate • \rih-JOO-vuh-nayt\ • verb To rejuvenate a person, parts of the body, etc., is to make them feel young, healthy, or energetic again. To rejuvenate something abstract, such as an economy or career, is to give it new strength or energy. // The hotel package includes a day at the spa to rejuvenate guests. // Small businesses opening along the main street have rejuvenated the downtown

en-us

00:01:47

zeitgeist

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2024/12/31

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 31, 2024 is: zeitgeist • \TSYTE-gyste\ • noun Zeitgeist refers to the general beliefs, ideas, and spirit of a time and place. // The artist’s songs perfectly captured the zeitgeist of 1990s America. See the entry > Examples: "In appointing Pharrell Williams as creative director in 2023, Louis Vuitton tapped further into the zeitgeist, refreshing the brand's image and broadening both its

en-us

00:01:40

urbane

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2024/12/30

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 30, 2024 is: urbane • \er-BAYN\ • adjective Someone described as urbane is notably polite, confident, or polished in manner. Urbane is also used to describe things that are fashionable and somewhat formal. // "When did my willful, childish cousin turn into this urbane young artist greeting the guests at her opening reception?" wondered Elena. // We were impressed by the hotel's urbane sophistication

en-us

00:02:34

linchpin

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2024/12/29

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 29, 2024 is: linchpin • \LINCH-pin\ • noun Linchpin, sometimes spelled lynchpin, literally refers to a locking pin inserted crosswise, as at the end of an axle or shaft. In figurative use, linchpin refers to a person or thing that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit; such a linchpin is often understood as the most important part of a complex situation or system. //

en-us

00:01:37

condone

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2024/12/28

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 28, 2024 is: condone • \kun-DOHN\ • verb To condone something that is considered wrong is to forgive or approve it, or to allow it to continue. // We cannot condone that kind of behavior. See the entry > Examples: "... remaining quiet is the same as condoning bad behavior. Choose to say or do something, as this will help hold people accountable for their words and actions and encourage

en-us

00:01:59

feisty

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2024/12/27

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 27, 2024 is: feisty • \FYE-stee\ • adjective Feisty describes someone who has or shows a lively aggressiveness especially in being unafraid to fight or argue. In some regions of the US, feisty may also be used as a synonym of fidgety, quarrelsome, or frisky. // Even her opponents admire her feisty spirit. See the entry > Examples: "Hummingbirds may be tiny, but the feisty birds can be

en-us

648 results

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Start The Breakthrough Full Audiobook Now, Thriller Fans!

thebookvoice.com

Get Hooked On The Life-Enhancing Full Audiobook Experience!

thebookvoice.com

西四五条

主播郑捕头

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

On Mic Podcast

Jordan Rich